Cost to Own
United States › Pennsylvania › Luzerne County › Harveys Lake Population 2,800 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $840 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Luzerne County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania

A $230,000 home here costs

$2,094

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $89,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 16%Insurance 4%Utilities 12%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,254. The real number is $840 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Luzerne County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Harveys Lake from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,800 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Luzerne County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Harveys Lake median: $229,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
PA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $184,000 borrowed $1,254
Property tax1.698% effective rate for Harveys Lake itself $325
Homeowners insurancePennsylvania averages $1,014/yr (NAIC), or 0.401% of home value $77
Electricity21.77ยข/kWh, Pennsylvania residential average, EIA $178
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $192
Total monthly $2,094

Harveys Lake against Luzerne County and Pennsylvania

MeasureHarveys LakeLuzerne County
Median home value$229,600$163,800
Median property tax$3,898$2,506
Effective tax rate1.698%1.530%
Median gross rent$1,230$958
Population2,800325,978

The weather behind that power bill

Harveys Lake sits in Luzerne County, which averages a high of 84.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 20.3°F in its coldest, with 38.72" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 791 cooling and 5,740 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Luzerne County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Luzerne County

Full Luzerne County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Harveys Lake averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Harveys Lake every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Harveys Lake I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Harveys Lake?

A $230,000 home in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania costs approximately $2,094 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,254 principal and interest, $325 property tax, $77 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $192 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Harveys Lake?

Harveys Lake has an effective property tax rate of 1.698%, based on a median home value of $229,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,898. That is higher than the Luzerne County average of 1.530%.

What is the average home price in Harveys Lake?

The median owner-occupied home value in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania is $229,600, against $163,800 across Luzerne County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harveys Lake?

Median gross rent in Harveys Lake is $1,230 a month, against $2,094 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Harveys Lake?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $89,500 a year. That covers the full $2,094 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Harveys Lake, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology